haepee



(No Model.)

H. M. HARPER.

I SWITCH LEVER AND ROD. No. 275,336. Patented Apr. 3, 1883.

Elli" E FIG-3 FIG- 5' uunwLssLs: xmv amoa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. HARPER, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

SWITCH LEVER AND ROD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 275,336, dated. April 3, 1883,

Application filed July 20, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. HARPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Ohemung and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Levers and Rods for Moving or Changing the Railsin Connection with Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch levers and rods for moving or placing the, rails in railroad-switches; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to change the centers so as to cause the pressure or strain from the rails to act on the lever in such a manner as to draw the handle end of the lever down firmly upon the head-block or tie, thereby removing all liability of the lever getting out of position; and, second, by removing all necessity for weights or fasteningsto hold the lever to its place, excepting as is necessary for locking the lever to keep it from being tampered with. l attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top view of the lever and rod as connected. Fig. 2 shows a vertical view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the lever detached. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications.

I accomplish the object of changing the centers, as set forth above, by placing a slot, either convex, concave, or straight, in the lever, as marked D, Fig. 2, crosswise at a distance from the fulcrum to obtain the desired movement of the rails which allows the pin or bolt that fastens the rod to the lever to drop into the slot D, so as to be below the center of the fulcrum-pin, thereby causing the pressure or strain from the rails to act on the lever, and accom plishing the object set forth above. I also have a pin or projection in or on the side of the lever, as marked E, Fig. 1, which is to as- (No model.)

sist the rod and force the pin or bolt to the bottom of the slot, holding it firmly in that position. I also have the end of the rod that connects the rails with the lever extended beyond the pin or bolt that fastens the rod to the lever far enough to allow the pin E to touch the extension marked F, Fig. 2, holding the rod in position whenthe lever is turned to that side.

I am not aware that slots have everbeen placed in the levers in connection with railroad-switches to change the centers so as to have the rods draw or push against the lever in such a manner as to hold the lever firmly to the head-block or tie, or that there ever have been pins or projections placed in or on the lever to assist the rods to their places by forcing the pins to the bottom of the slots, or that the endsof the rods connecting the switchrails with the lever have ever been extended beyond the pin or bolt that fastens the rod to the lever so as to hold the rod firmly to its place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a switch-stand, of a lever, slotted as described, with the rod and its pin, the arrangement being such that, the le ver being thrown to either side, the pin of the rod will fall below the center of the fulcrum and be looked against lateral strain from the switch-rails.

2. The combination of the slotted switch-- HENRY M. HARPER.

Witnesses G. S. BROWN, F. R. GRIFFITH. 

